It’s official: Lester to start Opening Day

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It wasn’t just the worst-kept secret in Fort Myers. It was almost anticlimactic.

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It wasn’t just the worst-kept secret in Fort Myers. It was almost anticlimactic.

John Farrell made the official announcement Thursday that Jon Lester will get the ball on Opening Day in Baltimore.

“Earth-shattering news,” Farrell deadpanned. “And the world is round.”

Lester becomes the seventh pitcher in the history of the franchise to start four or more Opening Days for the Red Sox. Only Roger Clemens (eight), Pedro Martinez (seven), and Dennis Eckersley and Cy Young (five apiece) have made more Opening Day starts.

Lester has made 220 starts in the major leagues, all with the Red Sox. He’s made at least 31 starts in six straight seasons, a span during which he has a 3.65 ERA. He’s made Game One starts in five playoff series for Boston dating back to 2008, including all three playoff series last October.

“The early trajectory of his career, for a guy that’s made that number of starts for a franchise as storied as this without having gotten to free agency yet, it speaks volumes for a talented guy at a very early age,” Farrell said.

Oh, yes, free agency. With less than a week to go, it appears increasingly unlikely that Lester and the Red Sox will come to agreement on a contract extension before the regular season begins. If the two sides agree to continue to talk during the season, it’ll put Lester in the position of having to separate his negotiations with the club from his performance for the club.

But that’s what he’s had to do all spring, too.

“I’m sure, in his mind, there was some anticipation leading up to when the talks began,” Farrell said. “Since they have started, he’s done a very good job balancing it, compartmentalizing those issues off the field and focusing on the task at hand.”

Twitter: @brianmacp

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